The Cereal Box Game
I can't take any credit for creating this game at all, but it's so good, and so in keeping with this blog that it would be baaaad of me not to introduce you to it. I was thinking about something similar(ish) to it when I was shown its wonders, but my idea was pants in comparison to this. It was a wet night on New Zealand's South Island and despite the fact that there was 11 of us staying in a rented house we were all kind of drifting off. That's when Zannah asked if there was a box handy. I think we actually used a beer bottle box, but that's not important. When she taught us how to play The Cereal Box Game, my little eyes lit up. Well, actually, my initial reaction was to warm up, as in stretching, because I saw the potential for fun, and pulled muscles. Zannah's noble efforts reinvigorated our wilting party. So, if you have a box and a pair of scissors then got for it. Remember - warm up and do some stretches first! This is a surprisingly athletic game and your body will love you for it.
The aim of the game sounds so straight forward you'll be convinced it's easy. All you have to do is pick up a box with your mouth. However, the only part of your body that can touch the ground is your feet. No hands or knees, no head or elbows, no belly, back or bum, only feet.
With each round of the game (i.e. after everyone's had a go) take a pair of scissors and slice some height off the box. How much depends on how quickly you want to progress, but something like 2cm (an inch) seems about right.
Then everyone has anouther go.
You carry on like this, having a go and cutting, until no one manages to pick up the dwindling box. I have seen, with my own eyes, the box reduced to the meerest lip and still be picked up by an adult, although that was Zannah, and she might count as a professional, having been playing it for the majority of her life.
You carry on like this, having a go and cutting, until no one manages to pick up the dwindling box. I have seen, with my own eyes, the box reduced to the meerest lip and still be picked up by an adult, although that was Zannah, and she might count as a professional, having been playing it for the majority of her life.
One of the great things about this game is that kids will always beat adults. I've heard it said that they're so well balanced and flexible that they can pick the box up from a step lower than the one they're stood on, on a flight of stairs. I'd suggest this only be done under supervision, with a catcher below. Although, if you have a step aerobics step that would be pretty safe.
Since I was taught this I have peddled it without mercy, and always to great effect. Showing it to my family meant that my nephews had their boredom relieved enough to want to hang around a bit longer and I saw my sisters compete like never before. Later that week it was taught to a wedding party, who were all exhausted after a late night prior and a long wedding day, and instantly the energy levels went up again.
Beware though, as I often suggest, establish the house rules at the beginning of the game. I take the view that you can wear whatever you like on your feet and can have as many goes as you want, even coming back into the game after previously conceding defeat. This is how the game was taught to me, and I think it's core to its spirit. However, when Rach (my girlfriend) played it with here sister there was some argument over whether wearing shoes was unfair, or even cheating. Really?!
